BYE TO THE CHIEF AND COLONEL DAN I call it quits. After supporting the
Illini for 50-plus years, I plan to never attend another University of
Illinois game or function. They don’t deserve my support, as long as
they are run by anti-U. of I. people, the South Side of Chicago, Gov. Rod
Blagojevich, and Senate President Emil Jones. All of my shirts, jackets,
sweaters, pictures, flags, posters, decanters, and golf bags are for
sale. Dan Cedusky ChampaignWRITE ABOUT POSITIVE ROLE MODELS It is February 2007. This is a month when we should
recognize African-Americans, either in our communities or African-Americans
who actually made a difference or are making a difference. I can understand
how the article about Larry Washington ended up in Illinois Times, but, I can’t
understand why this article graced the front cover [Dusty Rhodes,
“Springfield’s worst nightmare,” Feb. 15]. My intentions are not to pass judgment on Washington
or Illinois Times. I do feel I should point out that during the past 30 days there
have been African-Americans who have accomplished things that one would
never imagine. Let’s take a moment and reflect: Hmmm, how about the
two African-American coaches, Lovie Smith and Tony Dungey, who showed the
world what true sportsmanship is all about? One of those men is from
Illinois — and this newspaper is the Illinois Times. That’s not all. Don’t forget about U.S. Sen.
Barack Obama and his decision to run for presidency. I’m sorry, that
is a mistake — there was an article in this paper about Obama, on
page 8 at the very bottom, almost as if it was an advertisement. I found it disrespectful to the African-American
community that, during Black History Month, an article like this appeared
on the cover and took up approximately three pages. Crystal Collins Springfield ANOTHER NONSMOKER WEIGHS IN Bravo to Walter Foster for his letter to the editor
in the Feb. 15 issue. I, too, am a nonsmoker who supports the rights of
tavern owners to control their own smoking situation. Patrick Johnopolos Springfield NOBODY FORCES YOU TO HAVE CABLE Once again people are writing and complaining about
Insight’s alleged bad customer service and the “monopoly”
they have on the cable industry in Springfield [see “Letters,”
Feb. 8 and 15]. People are claiming that the government somehow needs to
step in and do something about it. There is no monopoly, and there are plenty of choices
in Springfield. If you don’t like Insight, try DirectTV or Dish
Network, or you can even put up an antenna to receive free television
programming. Cable service is not a right; it’s a service
provided for a fee. You’re not required to have cable. If you think
it costs too much, then don’t get it! How simple is that? The answer
most certainly is not legislation just because some people think it costs too
much. I’d love to have a new car, but the cost is prohibitive, so I
don’t have one. Should we be lobbying the government to legislate
new-car prices? Finally, I don’t know what kind of customer
service other people have received from Insight, but I’ve always had
excellent service from them. Their customer-service representatives have
always been courteous, helpful, and quick to resolve any issue I may have
with my cable or Internet service. Quit complaining about something being too expensive
and expecting the government to fix it for you. If you don’t like it,
don’t get it. Kevin Johnson Chatham SUGGESTION FOR OBAMA’S HEART U.S. Sen. Barack Obama can’t call himself a
Christian and be pro-choice. We had three presidents — Ronald Reagan,
George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush — who were pro-life, and they
won the White House. Also, of the 50 million abortions in America, 36
percent of them were African-American — that’s 18 million
babies. I pray Mr. Obama will have a change of heart on this issue. Danny Faulkner Springfield SUGGESTION FOR BUSH’S LIBRARY The most appropriate location for the Bush
presidential library would be Guantánamo Bay. The Gitmo prison could
house a one-of-a-kind world-class section on the history and methods of
torture and actual examples and devices. After all, Bush will want to be
remembered as a “war president” — the war president who
bravely led us into the Great War on Terror. If Cuba ever gets back the piece of land now occupied
by the U.S. military, Bush’s library could then be moved to the
Pentagon, which surely will continue to be, long after Bush and all of us
are gone, the focal center of America’s ongoing, endless War on
Terror. That way, George W. Bush’s legacy could last
— who knows? — perhaps a thousand years. Robert Waldmire Portal, Ariz. THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTERBarack Obama, a U.S. Senator and a presidential candidate, is an
African-American. Please let those be the last words about his heritage. In 1955, at the age of 6, I was taught a valuable
lesson about life by my dad. At the time, he was a coal miner who loaded
coal the old-fashioned way — with a pick and a No. 2 coal shovel. Dad’s lesson was taught at a gas station in
town that doubled as hangout for the local male population. On one Saturday
morning in 1955, the topic of conversation at the station concerned the
only Negro who worked in town. Dad and I listened to the conversation while
he paid for his gasoline. As we left, Dad made eye contact with those
present and said, “That man is a hard worker.” We drove home in our ’52 Chevy without Dad
saying another word. He did not need to. The lesson that was learned that
day, eight years prior to Martin Luther King’s “I have a
dream” speech: Judge a man by how hard he works. Barack Obama is a hard worker. One does not become
successful without working hard. As the 2008 presidential candidates begin their run
for office, listen to what they say. Do not become distracted by what
others say about their race, gender, party affiliation, or whether they are
conservatives or liberals. The next presidential election is too important
to be distracted.Stephen J. Verotsky
Johnstown, Pa. LET’S BAN
UNRULY CHILDREN In response to the reader who said that
“establishments aren’t important enough for smokers to
patronize,” we both smoke, however, we will occasionally patronize an
establishment that doesn’t permit smoking. Our main reason for not
patronizing establishments is that they do not have a ban on unruly
children who are “chaperoned” by ineffective parents. When we
do go out, too often are we subjected to children clambering around,
kicking, bickering, and whining. When did parenting become a game of
“let’s make a deal?” If I am to use my good manners and
smoke outdoors, why can’t you use yours and take your offensive
offspring out of the public eye until he or she learns that the
establishment is not a play area (unless you are at McDonald’s or
Chuck E. Cheese) and that their unruly actions have consequences? Is it
asking too much to let the rest of us enjoy our outing without brat
children ruining it for the rest of us? (And yes, we are parents —
with well-mannered children) Robbin and
Cecelia SmithSpringfield DISAPPOINTED WITH GIFT CARD POLICY I have neither given, nor been given, a Ned
Kelley’s gift card. Nonetheless, I find their offer regarding how
local people can use these cards, now that the local Ned Kelley’s is
closed, unsatisfactory. People were offered only one option: They could use
these cards at other Ned Kelley’s restaurants. With the nearest Ned
Kelley’s now being in Peoria or Bloomington, that is not much of deal
to most local people due to the cost of having to drive that far, not to
mention the round-trip travel time. I believe any business in such
circumstances should do better by their customers. Unless it is made known to the card’s purchaser
at the time of purchase that the business closest to either the home of the
purchaser or the home of the recipient of the card will be closing soon
(say, in three months), there should be additional options. One would be a full cash refund. Another would be to
arrange with a nearby similar business to redeem the card in full. Dick McLane Springfield